[IP] AAAE Issue Alert - Attempted Security Breach at GA Facility (fwd)
Begin forwarded message:
From: "J. Paul Reed" <preed@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: August 12, 2004 7:05:59 PM EDT
To: David Farber <dave@xxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Fwd: [BAFlying] AAAE Issue Alert - Attempted Security Breach
at GA Facility (fwd)
Dave:
For IP if you wish; basically, NBC employees attempted to hijack an
aircraft at a GA airport (after takeoff) to do a story on "how easy it
is to hijack GA planes"... except, the diligent people at the airport
noticed the ploy, called the FBI, and the NBC employees were arrested
(but
later released).
Think NBC will run a story on "how it's actually not-so-easy to hijack
general aviation aircraft?" That doesn't exactly grab people and keep
them
in their seats.
It also makes you wonder if they're going to try it again (the email
seems
to suggest that they will...)
Later,
Paul
------------------------------------------------------------------------
J. Paul Reed -- 0xDF8708F8 || preed@xxxxxxxxxxx || web.sigkill.com/preed
Math, my dear boy, is nothing more than the lesbian sister of biology.
-- Peter Griffin, Family Guy
I use PGP; you should use PGP too... if only to piss off John Ashcroft
----- Forwarded message -----
AAAE ISSUE ALERT
Transportation Security Services &
Non Hub/General Aviation Committees
www.airportnet.org/security
To: AAAE Transportation Security Services Committee
AAAE Non Hub/General Aviation Committee
AAAE Regulatory Membership
From: Rebecca Morrison
<mailto:rebecca.morrison@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> - Staff Vice President,
Transportation Security Policy Department, AAAE
Re: Attempted Security Breach at GA Facility
Date: August 11, 2004
The following is a description of an incident that occurred today at
the
St. Louis Downtown Airport, a large GA facility. We are sharing this
story with you as there are indications that it might be repeated
throughout the country. We would like to thank Bob McDaniel, the
Director
at the St. Louis Downtown Airport, for sharing the details of the
incident
outlined below.
Earlier today two Middle Eastern men attempted to penetrate our
security.
They telephoned one of my helicopter FBOs and asked about a charter
flight. After discussion of price and directions to the business, they
arrived an hour later. When the office agent asked how they were
going to
pay for the flight they produced cash. When asked for ID, they
produced
driver's licenses from two different states and they were driving a car
licensed in a third state.
Things didn't smell right so the mechanic took them into the hangar to
see
the aircraft while the office person called the FBI and local police.
The
helicopter they were going to fly was blocked in by other aircraft so
the
mechanic was able to stall them by having to slowly shuffle the
blocking
planes. Meanwhile the two men got their backpacks and odd-shaped
luggage
out of their car. Soon the local police arrived and they were hauled
off
to jail in handcuffs.
After a little time behind bars, the FBI verified that the two men were
employed by NBC New York and were on assignment to get a story of how
easy
it is to charter a helicopter for a terrorist attack. The men had
stayed
in a local hotel and purchased box cutters, leather-man knives, and
other
potential weapons at the local Wal-Mart using a credit card. The box
cutters had been hidden in the lining at the bottom of the back packs
and
the other weapons were hidden throughout their baggage. They had
audiotaped the telephone conversation with Arlene and were going to
use it
as part of a national news story about how easy it is to get
information
and directions to the location of the helicopter and then hijack it to
commit a terrorist attack.
I doubt they will be back at our airport soon and this is a story that
will never be seen since they were caught. A very "well-done" to my
FBO
and staff and the local FBI and police response forces. We have since
learned that we were the first airport where this had been attempted
and
NBC planned to attempt similar penetration stories around the country.
Please helm me spread the word to other airports.
Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions or comments.
**********************************
Rebecca K. Morrison
Staff Vice President, Transportation Security Policy
American Association of Airport Executives
601 Madison Street, Suite 400
Alexandria, VA 22314
703 797-2524
Fax: 703 820-1395
----- End forwarded message -----
Later,
Paul
------------------------------------------------------------------------
J. Paul Reed -- 0xDF8708F8 || preed@xxxxxxxxxxx || web.sigkill.com/preed
Math, my dear boy, is nothing more than the lesbian sister of biology.
-- Peter Griffin, Family Guy
I use PGP; you should use PGP too... if only to piss off John Ashcroft
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